It is with heavy hearts that we announce the last full day of business for The Bean at Main & 20th will be Sunday, July 30th.

Thank you to our incomparable neighbourhood, loyal customers, friends, family, and treasured staff for 16 wonderful years. If you are around the shop this month, we would be honoured if you shared a photo or memory with our whole Bean community on the bulletin board inside.

It is our great pleasure to have on display for the month of May and early June a collection of works by a group of art students from Shawnigan Lake School on Vancouver Island. While our curators Rita Minichiello and Len Budiwski have faithfully organized many years of exhibitions by primarily professional artists, this opportunity to present the work of burgeoning young creatives is a delight for us all. Len and I enjoyed getting a long look at the detail and deftness of their work as we hung the pieces one sunny evening. That customers were interested in purchasing pieces right off the tables and ever since should be a point of pride for these high schoolers.

Special thanks for Mr. Don Rolston, Head of Curricular Fine Art, for generously taking the time to work with the students to facilitate this group show and for framing each piece in preparation.

EXHIBITION STATEMENT: "The surrounding pieces of art are a sampling of student work from the Two Dimensional Fine Arts program at Shawnigan Lake School. The school strongly believes in the promotion and development of the artistic skills of their students and requires that all members be involved in some form of Fine Art activity throughout the year . We hope you enjoy the art."

Our year-end exhibition was a look back at some of the artists who have previously displayed their work at the shop.

Once again curated and organized by Rita Minichiello of Vernissage Exhibitions and Len Budiwski, this eclectic collection was a great reminder of how fortunate we are to be a venue for local artists. Thank you to each of the artists, Rita and Len and all of the customers who take the time to view and share their enthusiasm for these works. All the best for 2017!

This collection, My Streets - Then & Now, is the long-awaited exhibition from photographer and Bean Art Program curator Rita Minichiello of Vernissage Exhibitions. We could not be more appreciative of the creativity, consideration and commitment Rita has given us over many years. At home, I pass by her Donuts & Coffee image countless times a day. Reintroducing selections for her archives to our loyal customers is a great pleasure.

COASTAL AND FLORAL. As we transition from late summer to autumn, from leisurely days back into routine, we are surrounded by the warm tones and glimpses of coastal beauty in the work of painter Beverly Grice.

This exhibition is so fun! Kelly's embroidered pieces are awash in pop culture, colour and wit. While the feedback we get from customers is always positive, the smiling and joyful response to this collection is second to none.

This exhibition went up the night before Car Free Main Day and when I arrived early that quiet Sunday morning bracing for a festive, yet long and chaotic day, the beauty of these photographs was striking. As a frequent ferry rider, while my mind was lured in by the familiarity of the scenes, I was duly enchanted to be so taken with their joy - equal parts adventuresome and ordinary. Like seeing a child revel in a transit ride, while the commuter is left to feel a fool for being aloof, more than that, they are envious of the unfettered delight.

In celebration of 15 years at Main & 20th, we collaborated with Vancouver designer, illustrator and artist, Jane Koo to produce these fantastic enamel pins adorned with the age-old Bean Around The World motto.

Back in the day, we proudly served coffee in these old school diner mugs until the day the second to last one disappeared. Throwback to those days with a hipster pin on your lapel! The back side is embossed with the Bean logo and nod to our anniversary. They are $11.50 including tax and available in store today!

For 2,000 years, coffee has been grown in Yemen - a lineage surpassed only by Ethiopia. This particular coffee is sourced by Emeryville-based importing powerhouse Royal Coffee in the Western highlands of the country is produced in a traditional style that dates back to the 15th century. Dried in the cherry on the rooftops of cliffside homes, the full natural style delivers the warm, bold flavour beloved by dark roast lovers.